Dancing doll with means interfering with forward movement thereof

ABSTRACT

A walking doll of the type having a leg frame pivotally mounted in an upright torso on a generally fore-and-aft axis and drivingly connected to the torso by a crank for oscillating the torso and frame relative to each other about the fore-and-aft axis and in a lateral direction so that the weight of the doll is cyclically thrown onto one of the doll&#39;&#39;s legs while the other leg is lifted free of a supporting surface for forward movement is provided with a greater-than-normal crank throw and with friction-reducing means between the ground-contacting ends of the legs and the supporting surface for increasing the oscillating amplitude and for impeding forward movement of the doll so that the doll simulates dancing action. An oscillator bar connects the leg frame to the doll&#39;&#39;s arms and head for oscillating them to heighten the dancing simulation.

United States Patent Primary Examiner F Barry Shay Attorney-Seymour A. Scholnick ABSTRACT: A walking doll of the type having a leg frame pivotally mounted in an upright torso on a generally fore-andaft axis and drivingly connected to the torso by a crank for oscillating the torso and frame relative to each other about the fore-and-aft axis and in a lateral direction so that the weight of the doll is cyclically thrown onto one of the dolls legs while the other leg is lifted free of a supporting surface for forward movement is provided with a greater-than-normal crank throw and with friction-reducing means between the ground-contacting ends of the legs and the supporting surface for increasing the oscillating amplitude and for impeding forward movement of the doll so that the doll simulates dancing action. An oscillator bar connects the leg frame to the dolls arms and head for oscillating them to heighten the dancing simulation.

PATENTED AUG] 1 Ian SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENIOR ARM/W00 I GARCIA BY ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The background of the invention is set forth in two parts:

1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to motor driven toys, and more particularly to a dancing figure toy.

2. Description of the Prior Art US. Pat. No. 3,267,608 describes a walking doll of the type having a leg frame pivotally mounted in an upright torso on a generally fore-and-aft axis. A pair of legs are pivotally mounted on the frame which is drivingly connected to the torso by a crank for oscillating the torso and frame relative to each other about the fore-and-aft axis and in a lateral direction so that the weight of the doll is cyclically thrown onto one of the dolls legs while the other leg is liftedfree of a supportingsurface for forward movement.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a walking doll with means for simulating dancing actions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a doll of the type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,267,608 with a greater than normal crank throw and with friction-reducing means between the ground-contacting ends of the legs and the supporting surface for increasing the oscillating amplitude and for impeding foreward movement of the doll so that the doll simulates dancing action.

' It is a further object of the present invention to provide a doll of the type described with an oscillator bar connected to the leg frame and the doll 's arms and head for oscillating them during simulated dancing actions.

In accordance with the present invention, a simple dancing doll mechanism is provided which can also drive the arms and head of the doll in a lifelike manner. The doll includes a substantially upright torso having arm, leg and neck openings. A pair of arms are pivotally mounted in the arm openings and the doll s head is pivotally mounted in the neck opening.

The doll also includes a pair of legs having feet. Each foot is provided with a surface engaging portion for supporting the doll on a surface and the legs each includes an upper end extending into the dolls torso through one of the leg openings. The upper ends of the legs are pivotally connected to a leg frame which is swingably mounted in the torso on a generally fore-and-aft axis. A drive means connects the leg frame to the torso for oscillating the torso from side to side with respect to the legs. This cyclically throws the weight of the doll onto one of the legs while the other leg is lifted free of the supporting surface and then onto said other leg while said one leg is lifted free of the supporting surface. A lifted leg is automatically urged forward by gravity.

Additionally, the surface-engaging portions of the feet and the surface engaged thereby are hard and are made of a material having less friction than that required to hold a weight-carrying leg in position during forward movement of a lifted leg. This causes the doll to step in place and twist and turn on a weight-carrying leg in simulation of dancing actions.

The doll also includes an oscillator bar which is pivotally mounted in the torso and is connected to the leg frame for oscillation thereby. The oscillator bar is also connected to the arms and the head for oscillating them during oscillation of the torso.

The novel features of the present invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS cordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view, with parts broken away to show internal construction of the doll of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the torso and arm portions of the doll in phantom and showing the operating parts of the doll in a first operated position;

FIG. 4 is a partial, cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded, enlarged perspective view of the arm and head oscillating portions of the operating mechanism used in the doll of FIG. I. 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring again to the drawings, a dancing figure toy constituting a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, generally designated 10, includes an upright torso 12 having a front torso half 14 (FIG. 4) and a rear torso half 16 in which are formed arm openings 18, 20, leg openings 22, 24 and a neck opening 26. The housing halves l2, 14 may be moded from a fairly rigid, plastic material, such as an acetal resin or the like and may be joined together by a plurality of pins 28 which are formed integrally with the housing half 14 and which engage cylindrical, hollow bosses 30 formed integrally with the housing half 16.

FIG. toy 10 also includes a head 32 which is pivotally mounted in neck opening 26 on a neck stand 34 having a flat circular base 36 and an upstanding thimble 38. Neck stand 34 may be secured in neck opening 26 by affixing base 36 to front torso half 14 and rear torso half 16. Alternatively, neck stand 34 may include a front half 40 and a rear half 42 formed integrally with front torso half 14 and rear torso half 16, respectively. Thimble 38 is provided with an annular shoulder 44 rotatively receiving an annular shelf 46 provided on a collar 48 having upper and lower peripheral flanges 50, 52 frictionally engaged in neck portion 54 of head 32. Collar 48 includes a hollow, frustoconical member 56 rotatably engaging thimble 38 for centering collar 48 and head 32 on neck stand 34. Collar 48 is also provided with a pair of depending tangs 58, 60 extending through a slot 62 provided in base 36 into operative association with a finger 64 provided on an oscillator bar or rocker arm 66.

Rocker arm 66 is swingably mounted in torso 12 on a pivot pin 68 and includes four arms 70, 72, 74 and 76. Arms 70, 74 include finger-receiving members 78, 80, respectively, receiving fingers 82, 84 carried by arm levers 86, 88 rotatably mounted in arm openings 18, 20, respectively.

Arm levers 86, 88 each includes a spindle 90 journaled in a bearing block 92 provided in torso 12 (FIGS. 3 and 5),'a bearing surface 94 journaled in an associated one of the openings 18, 20 and an annular groove 96 frictionally receiving an annular, intumed flange 98 provided on an associated one of the FIG. toys arms 100, 102. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that oscillation of rocker arm 66 about pivot pin 68 will swing arms 100 and 102 up and down, as indicated by arrows I04, 106, respectively (FIGS. 1 and 2). Oscillation is imparted to rocker arm 66 through arm 76 having a crank pin I08 (FIGS. 3 and 5) engaged in a slot I10 provided in the upper end 112 of a leg frame assembly 114 swingably mounted in torso 12 on a generally fore-and-aft axis formed by front and rear pivot pins 116, 118, respectively, (FIG. 4) carried by frame 114 and joumaled in a first cylindrical, hollow boss I20 carried by torso half 14 and a second cylindrical, hollow boss 122 carried by torso half 16, respectively.

Leg frame 114 includes a front bracket 124, an intermediate bracket 126 and a rear bracket 128. A drive apparatus in the form of an electric motor 130 is mounted between brackets 126 and 128 and includes an output shaft 132 joumaled in apertures 134, 136 provided in brackets 124, 126, respectively. Output shaft 132 drives a pinion gear 138 meshing with the large diameter portion 140 of a gear 142 journaled between brackets 124 and 126 and including a small diameter-gear 144 meshing with a crank gear 146 carrying a crank pin 148. Torso l2 and leg frame 114 are oscillated with respect to each other by crank pin 148 which works in a crank slot 150 formed in the front wall 152 of a battery housing 154 formed integrally with rear torso half 16.

FIG. toy 10 also includes a pair of legs 156, 158 (FIG. 2) each having a foot 160 including a surface-engaging portion or sole 162 for supporting figure toy 10 on a suitable surface 164. Each sole 162 is sloped about per side from the outer edge 164 and the inner edge 166 to a slight ridge 168 located approximately midway between edges 164, 166 and extending substantially from the front edge to the rear edge of sole 162. Each leg 156, 158 includes an upper end 170 having an annular shoulder 172 extending through an associated one of the leg openings 22, 24 with sufficient clearance to permit oscillation 112 torso 12 with respect to legs 156, 158. Each shoulder 172 includes a reduced diameter portion 174 frictionally engaging a cap 176 having suitable tabs, like the ones shown at 178, engaged in slots, like the ones shown at 180 for the tab 178, provided in annular shoulders 174. Each cap 176 is nonrotatably connected by a suitable fastener 181 to a first leg 182 of a channel-shaped member 184 having a bight portion 186 and a second leg 188. Each member 184 swingably connects an' associated one of the legs 156, 158 to leg frame 114 on an axle 190 having an intermediate portion fixed to leg frame 114 and extending, with a loose fit, through suitable apertures provided in the forward ends of legs 182 and 188 of members 184 for mounting legs 156, 158 forwardly of their centers of gravity, whereby legs 156, 158 will automatically be urged forwardly by gravity when lifted from surface 164. The forward swinging of each leg I56, 158 is limited by a rod 192 (FIG. 4) having an intermediate portion fixed to leg frame 1 l4 and outboard ends disposed in slotted apertures (not shown) provided in legs 188 of members 184 slightly behind the midportion thereof.

Electrical energy may be supplied to motor 130 by a dry cell 194 mounted in battery housing 154 and connected to motor 130 by electrical leads 196, 198 through a suitable switch 200.

' Operation of FIG. toy will be readily understood when motor 130 is energized, pinion gear 138 will drive crank pin 148 through gears 142 and 146. Crank pin 148 works through a throw of approximately 0.325 inches oscillating torso 12 approximately 8 from side to side of a longitudinal centerline 202 (FIG. 3) passing through leg frame 114 moving the iongitudinal centerline 204 of torso 12 8 to the left and then 8 to the right of centerline 202 causing the weight of FIG. toy 10 to be thrown first onto leg 156 while leg 158 is lifted free of surface 164 for forward movement and then onto leg 158 while leg 156 is lifted free of surface 164. This pivots figure toy 10 from side to side alternately on ridge 168 for leg 156 and ridge 168 for leg 158. A lifted leg automatically moves forwardly by gravity and figure toy 10 would advance forwardly in a walking manner if sufficient friction existed between weight-carrying sole 162 and surface 164. However, sole 162 is made from a hard material, such as an acetal resin and surface 164 also comprises a relatively hard material, such as a wooden or linoleum floor so that the sole 162 which is on surface 164 twists and turns without moving figure toy 10 in a forward direction. Thus, the feet 160 twists, turns and steps in place to simulate dancing actions by figure toy 10. These simulated dancing actions are heightened, in part, by increasing the throw of crank 148 approximately 0.125 inches over the throw used in a prior art walking doll having substantially the same legs, leg frame, drive apparatus and torso as that employed in figure toy 10, but not including rocker arm 66 and the parts operatively associated therewith. This prior art doll also included urethane foam pads on soles 162 for increasing the friction between feet 160 and surface 164.

Oscillating torso 12 from side to side with respect to leg frame 114 also oscillates rocker arm 66 causing head 32 to oscillate back and forth from left to right and causing arms 100 and 102 to swing up and down imparting additional animation to figure toy l0 and making the simulated dancing actions more realistic. Additionally, the dynamics of oscillating head 32 and swinging arms 100, 102 contributes somewhat to the twisting and turning of figure toy 10 on each foot during the time it supports the weight of figure toy 10.

Although a particular embodiment of the present invention has been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art, and consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.

What I claim is: I

1. In combination, a walking figure toy, comprising:

a substantially upright torso;

a leg assembly comprising a frame portion pivoted to said torso on a generally fore-and-aft axis;

a pair of legs depending from said frame portion and mounted for independent fore-and-aft pivotal movements thereon; and

drive means drivingly connected said frame portion and said torso to cyclically oscillate them relative to each other about said fore-and-aft axis and in a lateral direction so that the weight of said figure toy is cyclically thrown onto one of said legs by an oscillation of said torso and frame portion while the other leg is lifted free of a supporting surface for forward movement, and then onto said other leg while said one leg is lifted free of said surface, whereby said figure toy tends to move forward in a walking action, the improvement comprising:

means interferring with the forward movement of said figure toy, including:

means connected to said drive means for increasing the amplitude of said oscillation to a substantial degree beyond that required for said walking action, whereby said legs are forced into a relatively unstable condition, compared to a doll with regular amplitude, during the time they are supporting said weight; and

means provided on the surface-contacting ends of said legs and on said surface for reducing the friction between said ends and said surface below that amount of friction needed for walking action.

2. The improvement stated in claim 1 wherein said figure toy includes a pair of arms pivotally connected to said torso, and oscillator bar means connecting said arms to said drive means for swinging said arms during operation of said drive means, whereby said unstable condition is magnified by said arm swinging movements.

3. The improvement stated in claim 2 wherein said figure toy includes a head pivotally connected to said torso, and means connecting said head to said bar means for oscillating said head during operation of said drive means.

4. The improvement stated in claim 3 wherein said bar means is pivotally mounted in said torso and includes a depending arm connected to said frame portion, said means connecting said head to said bar means including an upstanding arm connected to said head, and said bar means further including a pair of laterally extending arms connected to said figure toys arms.

5. In combination, a doll, comprising:

a substantially upright torso having arm, leg and neck openings;

a pair of arms pivotally mounted in said arm openings;

a head pivotally mounted in said neck opening;

a pair of legs each having a foot including a surface-engaging portion for supporting said doll on a surface, said legs each including an upper and extending into said torso through an associated one of said leg openings;

a leg frame swingably mounted in said torso on a generally fore-and-aft axis;

means pivotally connecting said upper ends of said legs to said leg frame for independent fore-and-aft swinging movement;

drive means connecting said leg frame to said torso for oscillating said torso from side to side with respect to said legs for cyclically throwing the weight of said doll onto one of said legs while the other leg is lifted free of said supporting surface and then onto said other leg while said means connecting said oscillator bar means to said arms for one leg is lifted free of said surface; and said doll includwinging said arms during oscillation of said torso; and

s structlfl'al means bringing about 'l movemeans connecting said oscillator bar means to said head for mam of aimed leg, the lmpfovemeflt compnsmg: oscillating said head during oscillation of said torso. means provldfed at F one of Sam Sufface and i P 6. A doll as stated in claim including a ridge extending faceengagmg Pomons for the mono along the major axis of each of said surface-engaging portions,

therebetween below the amount reqmred to hold a each of said ridges being formed by sloping an associated one ei ht-car in lo in osition durin forward movement l f a lifted I Zg the reby causing said $101] to step in place of i Surface-engagmg perilous 50 per Side from the outer and causing a weight-carrying foot to slide and turn on 10 and Inner edges to apprpxlmate ceiner h said Surface; 7. A doll as stated in claim 5 wherein said head lS rotatably oscillator bar m 6 ans pivot any m Gum e d in Said tors o; mounted on a neck plug affixed to said torso In said neck means connecting said oscillator bar means to said leg opening frame for oscillation thereby; 

1. In combination, a walking figure toy, comprising: a substantially upright torso; a leg assembly comprising a frame portion pivoted to said torso on a generally fore-and-aft axis; a pair of legs depending from said frame portion and mounted for independent fore-and-aft pivotal movements thereon; and drive means drivingly connected said frame portion and said torso to cyclically oscillate them relative to each other about said fore-and-aft axis and in a lateral direction so that the weight of said figure toy is cyclically thrown onto one of said legs by an oscillation of said torso and frame portion while the other leg is lifted free of a supporting surface for forward movement, and then onto said other leg while said one leg is lifted free of said surface, whereby said figure toy tends to move forward in a walking action, the improvement comprising: means interferring with the forward movement of said figure toy, including: means connected to said drive means for increasing the amplitude of said oscillation to a substantial degree beyond that required for said walking action, whereby said legs are forced into a relatively unstable condition, compared to a doll with regular amplitude, during the time they are supporting said weight; and means provided on the surface-contacting ends of said legs and on said surface for reducing the friction between said ends and said surface below that amount of friction needed for walking action.
 2. The improvement stated in claim 1 wherein said figure toy includes a pair of arms pivotally connected to said torso, and oscillator bar means connecting said arms to said drive means for swinging said arms during operation of said drive means, whereby said unstable condition is magnified by said arm swinging movements.
 3. The improvement stated in claim 2 wherein said figure toy includes a head pivotally connected to said torso, and means connecting said head to said bar means for oscillating said head during operation of said drive means.
 4. The improvement stated in claim 3 wherein said bar means is pivotally mounted in said torso and includes a depending arm connected to said frame portion, said means connecting said head to said bar means including an upstanding arm connected to said head, and said bar means further including a pair of laterally extending arms connected to said figure toy''s arms.
 5. In combination, a doll, comprising: a substantially upright torso having arm, leg and neck openings; a pair of arms pivotally mounted in said arm openings; a head pivotally mounted in said neck opening; a pair of legs each having a foot including a surface-engaging portion for supporting said doll on a surface, said legs each including an upper and extending into said torso through an associated one of said leg openings; a leg frame swingably mounted in said torso on a generally fore-and-aft axis; means pivotally connecting said upper ends of said legs to said leg frame for independent fore-and-aft swinging movement; drive means connecting said leg frame to said torso for oscillating said torso from side to side with respect to said legs for cyclically throwing the weight of said doll onto one of said legs while the other leg is lifted free of said supporting surface and then onto said other leg while said one leg is lifted free of said surface; and said doll including structural means for bringing about forward movement of a lifted leg, the improvement comprising: means provided on at least one of said surface and said surface-engaging portions for reducing the friction therebetween below the amount required to hold a weight-carrying leg in position during forward movement of a lifted leg, thereby causing said doll to step in place and causing a weight-carrying foot to slide and turn on said surface; oscillator bar means pivotally mounted in said torso; means connecting said oscillator bar means to said leg frame for oscillation thereby; means connecting said oscillator bar means to said arms for swinging said arms during oscillation of said torso; and means connecting said oscillator bar means to said head for oscillating said head during oscillation of said torso.
 6. A doll as stated in claim 5 including a ridge extending along the major axis of each of said surface-engaging portions, each of said ridges being formed by sloping an associated one of said surface-engaging portions 5* per side from the outer and inner edges to the approximate center thereof.
 7. A doll as stated in claim 5 wherein said head is rotatably mounted on a neck plug affixed to said torso in said neck opening. 